Willoughbyduncan6582

The development of a novel snack bar based on sesame paste (SP) and date syrup (DS) was investigated. The aim of this study was to evaluation the effects of SP/DS ratio and encapsulated thymol (thymol-loaded nanostructured lipid carrier [TNLC]) on physicochemical, textural, rheological, and sensorial properties of snack bars. The effect of butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), thymol, and TNLC showed that the addition of 100 ppm TNLC could improve the oxidative stability of SP/DS mixtures even better than BHT, while a higher concentration of TNLC had a negative effect. The unpleasant taste and odor of thymol could be overcome by its encapsulation in nanostructured lipid carriers. The textural properties of the formulations with different SP/DS ratios (12, 11, 21) and an overall concentration of 7 g of gelatin/kg of mixtures were evaluated. The texture profile analysis showed that the sample with an SP/DS ratio of 11 had higher hardness, adhesiveness, springiness, cohesiveness, and gumminess in comparison with the other ratios. From the sensory evaluation data, the bar prepared with an SP/DS ratio of 11 had the most acceptable texture. According to the results, the SP/DS ratio of 11 with gelatin and 100 ppm TNLC can be used in developing SP/DS blends as a highly acceptable functional food. © 2020 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.In this study, size-selected platinum (Pt) nanoclusters were imaged with aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy in high-angle annular dark field (HAADF) mode. For image analysis, a relatively simple macro program was developed by making the use of existing ImageJ plug-ins. The macro allows effectively for assessing criterions chosen for intensity threshold and filter blurring factors. It can extract the integrated HAADF intensity, peak intensity and projected area of the clusters. Here, the effects of magnification and objective lens defocus on nanocluster measurement were investigated. It was found that the integrated HAADF intensity of Pt clusters is a more robust sample descriptor than the peak intensity and the projected area. Proteinase K chemical structure The macro program developed is freely available. LAY DESCRIPTION Measuring precisely the size of nanoclusters plays an important role in the investigation of nanocluster-based material systems. Aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) is one of the most powerful tools to extract the size of clusters directly from their images. In this study, we developed a macro program based on existing ImageJ plug-ins, allowing easy-assessment of criterions chosen for image intensity threshold and filter blurring factors. It can be used to extract the integrated intensity, peak intensity, and projected area of the clusters for size determination. Using the program, we investigated the effects of magnification and objective lens defocus on measurements performed on size-selected platinum (Pt) nanoclusters, and found that the integrated intensity of Pt clusters is a more robust sample descriptor than the peak intensity and the projected area. The macro developed allows a rapid assessment of factors affecting the accuracy with which size information can be obtained from clusters. © 2020 The Authors Journal of Microscopy © 2020 Royal Microscopical Society.OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship among smoking, alcohol consumption, and peritonsillar abscess in a Korean population. STUDY DESIGN Individuals ≥40 years old from the Korean National Health Insurance Service-Health Screening Cohort were assessed from 2002 to 2013. METHODS In total, 1,285 peritonsillar abscess participants were matched with 5,140 controls at a ratio of 14 with respect to age group, sex, income group, region of residence, hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia. We analyzed the participants' previous histories of smoking (current smokers vs. nonsmokers or past smokers) and alcohol consumption (drinkers vs. nondrinkers) in the peritonsillar abscess and control groups. Peritonsillar abscess was defined using the International Classification of Disease-10 code J36 combined with claim codes for incision and drainage or aspiration. Crude and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) were analyzed using unconditional logistic regression analyses, and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. RESULTS The rates of smoking and consuming alcohol were higher in the peritonsillar abscess group than in the control group. The adjusted OR of smoking for peritonsillar abscess was 1.23 (95% CI = 1.06-1.44, P = .009), and that of alcohol consumption was 1.18 (95% CI = 1.02-1.36, P = .024). CONCLUSION The odds of smoking and alcohol consumption were increased in peritonsillar abscess patients compared to those in the control group. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE NA Laryngoscope, 2020. © 2020 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.The fungus Verticillium dahliae causes vascular wilt disease on hundreds of plant species. Homologs of the bZIP transcription factor Atf1 are required for virulence in most pathogenic fungi, but the molecular basis for their involvement is largely unknown. We performed targeted gene deletion, expression analysis, biochemistry and pathogenicity assays to demonstrate that VdAtf1 governs pathogenesis via the regulation of nitrosative resistance and nitrogen metabolism in V. dahliae. VdAtf1 controls pathogenesis via the regulation of nitric oxide (NO) resistance and inorganic nitrogen metabolism rather than oxidative resistance and is important for penetration peg formation in V. dahliae. VdAtf1 affects ammonium and nitrate assimilation in response to various nitrogen sources. VdAtf1 may be involved in regulating the expression of VdNut1. VdAtf1 responds to NO stress by strengthening the fungal cell wall, and by causing over-accumulation of methylglyoxal and glycerol, which in turn impacts NO detoxification. We also verified that the VdAtf1 ortholog in Fusarium graminearum mediates nitrogen metabolism, suggesting conservation of this function in related plant pathogenic fungi. Our findings revealed new functions of VdAtf1 in pathogenesis, response to nitrosative stress and nitrogen metabolism in V. dahliae. The results provide novel insights into the regulatory mechanisms of the transcription factor VdAtf1 in virulence. © 2020 The Authors. New Phytologist © 2020 New Phytologist Trust.Cryofixation by high-pressure freezing (HPF) followed by freeze substitution (FS) is a preferred method to prepare biological specimens for ultrastructural studies. It has been shown to achieve uniform vitrification and ultrastructure preservation of complex structures in different cell types. One limitation of HPF is the small sample volume of less then 200 µm thickness and about 2000 µm across. A wool follicle is a rare intact organ in a single sample about 200 µm thick. Within each follicle, specialized cells derived from multiple cell lineages assemble, mature and cornify to make a wool fibre, which contains 95% keratin and associated proteins. In addition to their complex structure, large density changes occur during wool fibre development. Limited water movement and accessibility of fixatives are some issues that negatively affect the preservation of the follicle ultrastructure via conventional chemical processing. Here, we show that HPF-FS of wool follicles can yield high-quality tissue preservation for ultrastructural studies using transmission electron microscopy. © 2020 The Authors Journal of Microscopy © 2020 Royal Microscopical Society.OBJECTIVE Correction of the caudal septum deviation is the most difficult part of the septoplasty and a common cause of revision septoplasty. The purpose of this study was to present authors' preliminary results in the treatment of patients with caudal septal deviation using the septal cartilage traction suture technique. STUDY DESIGN Prospective, single center, observational study. MATERIALS AND METHODS Sixty-seven patients with a caudal septal deviation underwent septal cartilage traction suture technique with endonasal septoplasty. After removal of excessive caudal cartilage, the caudal L-strut was sutured at two or more points using 5-0 Vicryl on the modified Killian incision site. Subjective outcomes using visual analog scales (VAS) and Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) scale, objective endoscopic examination, and acoustic rhinometry data were assessed. RESULTS There was significant symptomatic improvement in the VAS and NOSE scale at 1, 3, and 6 months postsurgery. Complete correction in the endoscopy was observed in the 91.0% of patients at 3 months postsurgery. The results of acoustic rhinometry increased from 0.3 and 4.3 preoperatively to 0.7 and 7.7 at 3 months postoperatively. Furthermore, no patient experienced septal hematoma, septal perforation, and loss of nasal tip support at 6 months follow-up. CONCLUSIONS The septal cartilage traction suture technique obtained significant improvement in subjective and objective outcomes in patients with caudal septal deviation. This technique is a simple, safe, and effective method to treat caudal septal deviation. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 4 Laryngoscope, 2020. © 2020 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS To measure and report noise exposure at urban music venues and assess the risk of noise-induced hearing loss by comparing these measures to the National Institute of Occupations Safety and Health (NIOSH) guidelines. STUDY DESIGN Observational study. METHODS A commercially available smartphone and external calibrated microphone were used to measure sound levels at urban music venues. The maximum sound level, equivalent continuous sound level, and statistical noise levels (L10, L50, L75, L90) were recorded. RESULTS The average equivalent continuous sound level was 112.0 (±4.9) dBA, and the average maximum sound level was 127.0 (±3.2) dBA. The L90 average (sound levels at or above this loudness for 90% of measured exposure time) was 101.1 (±5.5) dBA, and the L10 average was 115.2 (±5.0) dBA. Based off of NIOSH guidelines, noise exposure duration at the L10 average should not exceed 28 seconds, and those at the L90 average should not exceed 12 minutes. CONCLUSIONS Smartphone applications using external calibrated microphones can provide useful sound measurements. Data show that randomly sampled music venues may have noise levels that place patrons without hearing protection at risk for noise-induced hearing loss with prolonged exposure. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE NA Laryngoscope, 2020. © 2020 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.Nitrogen (N) assimilation is associated with 14 N/15 N fractionation such that plant tissues are generally 15 N-depleted compared to source nitrate. In addition to nitrate concentration, the δ15 N value in plants is also influenced by isotopic heterogeneity amongst organs and metabolites. However, our current understanding of δ15 N values in nitrate is limited by the relatively small number of compound-specific data. We extensively measured δ15 N in nitrate at different time points, in sunflower and oil palm grown at fixed nitrate concentration, with nitrate circulation being varied using potassium (K) conditions and waterlogging. There were strong interorgan δ15 N differences for contrasting situations between the two species, and a high 15 N-enrichment in root nitrate. Modelling shows that this 15 N-enrichment can be explained by nitrate circulation and compartmentalisation whereby despite a numerically small flux value, the backflow of nitrate to roots via the phloem can lead to a c. 30‰ difference between leaves and roots.